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TexasHB 508189th Legislature Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to the protection of personal identifying information of certain individuals in the judicial system; creating a criminal offense.

Sponsored By: Creighton, Jeff Leach

Signed by Governor

Business & Commerce--GeneralCivil Remedies & LiabilitiesCourts--GeneralCourts--JudgesCourts--PersonnelCrimes--Against Persons--GeneralProtection of Personal InformationCOURT ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Court families gain privacy lawsuit rights

Covered court workers can sue when a violation makes their or an immediate family member's protected information public. They can seek an order stopping the disclosure or declaring their rights. If they win, the court may impose a $500 daily fine while the information remains public after the order. Against defendants other than state agencies, courts may also award punitive damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees.

More privacy protection for court families

Beginning September 1, 2025, judges, court clerks, and judicial-branch employees can request protection for personal information. Protection also covers immediate family members and household residents. Covered information includes home addresses, personal phone numbers, emails, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers. It also includes financial accounts, vehicle identifiers, minors' identities, school or day-care attendance, employment details, and images revealing protected information. State-agency employment information and certain mapping and real-estate displays are excluded. After a written request from the person or the Office of Court Administration, the law bars covered online posting, sales, purchases, and transfers. Recipients must remove identified information within 10 business days, clear copies from websites they control, and help locate other copies. Posting and removal duties cover information available on or after September 1, 2025, even if posted earlier. Exceptions preserve public-interest news and commentary, voluntarily published information, requested services, and specified government, safety, financial, insurance, health, credit-reporting, law-enforcement, and telecommunications uses. Judges can get help notifying recipients, including data brokers, by filing a written request with the office's director. Required implementation depends on a specific appropriation; without one, the office may use other available funds. The office may build or buy a statewide automated system.

Criminal penalties for exposing court families

Intentionally posting court workers' or immediate family members' protected information online without consent is a Class B misdemeanor when two conditions hold. The poster must intend to cause or threaten harm or harassment, and harm or harassment must be a probable result. A separate Class B misdemeanor covers non-data-brokers who fail to remove information identified in a written removal request. That offense requires control of the public website and failure to remove the information within 10 business days after receipt. Either offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury to the covered worker or immediate family. These offenses apply only when every element occurs on or after September 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Creighton

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Jeff Leach

    House

Cosponsors

  • Judith Zaffirini

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 473 • No: 22

House vote • 5/28/2025

Record vote

Yes: 114 • No: 22

Senate vote • 5/26/2025

Record vote

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/26/2025

Record vote

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 5/14/2025

Record vote

Yes: 140 • No: 0

House vote • 5/13/2025

Record vote

Yes: 138 • No: 0

Senate vote • Unknown

Committee vote: State Affairs

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective on 9/1/25

    6/20/2025House

  2. Signed by the Governor

    6/20/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    5/31/2025House

  4. Signed in the Senate

    5/31/2025Senate

  5. Signed in the House

    5/30/2025House

  6. Reported enrolled

    5/29/2025House

  7. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported

    5/28/2025Senate

  8. Text of Senate Amendment(s)

    5/28/2025House

  9. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    5/28/2025House

  10. Record vote (RV#3994)

    5/28/2025House

  11. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)

    5/28/2025House

  12. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed

    5/27/2025House

  13. Senate Amendments distributed

    5/27/2025House

  14. Senate passage as amended reported

    5/26/2025House

  15. Record vote

    5/26/2025Senate

  16. Passed

    5/26/2025Senate

  17. Read 3rd time

    5/26/2025Senate

  18. Record vote

    5/26/2025Senate

  19. Three day rule suspended

    5/26/2025Senate

  20. Vote recorded in Journal

    5/26/2025Senate

  21. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading

    5/26/2025Senate

  22. Rules suspended-Regular order of business

    5/26/2025Senate

  23. Placed on intent calendar

    5/26/2025Senate

  24. Co-sponsor authorized

    5/26/2025Senate

  25. Committee report printed and distributed

    5/25/2025Senate

Bill Text

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